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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-14 Conservation Commission Minutesp�N prRoi ,639 Mira 90 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes cLIU �J'WN CLERK ALiING. M ;SS. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: �uiS JGtd 23 P SCI Conservation Commission Date: 2015 -01 -14 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Board of Selectmen Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Public Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Annika Scanlon, Chairman; Terry Selle, Rebecca Longley, Alison Stager, Charles Tirone, Administrator Members - Not Present: Jamie Maughan, Brian Sullivan Others Present: Bob Takach John Halsey Bill Alley Walter Marshall Dorothy Marshall Cori Barrett, MWRA Steve Comoletti, P Caliacco Corp Jerry Sheehan, MWRA Mary White, MWRA Bill Beyer, FST Kevin Beauregard, FST Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Julia Rodger Topics of Discussion: APPROVED: January 28, 2015 Ms. Scanlon called meeting to order at 7:05 pm Old /New Business 27 Dustin Road Owner, Cameron Melo was sent a letter from Conservation Commission on 12/30/2014 requesting he appear before the Board. Unauthorized fill and yard waste is being dumped on his property and Town Right of Way property. The problem is fill is within jurisdictional area of wetland. Ms. Scanlon explained the Commission has jurisdiction over land use within 100 feet of wetland and 200 feet of a river or annual stream. The 1" mulch he used for landscaping around trees is a minor issue. Ms. Scanlon asked that fill and yard waste be removed after the winter thaw. The Board would like to encourage property owners to be stewards of these lands and to keep wetlands healthy by removing additional leaves and branches. Keeping the channels open will help the drainage of his property. The Commission has a list of suggestions and guidelines available along with good wetland management practices. Page 1 1 2013 -09 c3 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes Mr. Melo is a new property owner and did not realize fill was not allowed. He agreed that some dirt and mulch did go onto Town property. He believes other neighbors have been dumping here for years. Ms. Scanlon suggested Mr. Melo speak to his neighbors and ask for their help monitoring the area. Mr. Tirone will put this issue on the agenda for Spring including 24 Dustin Road. Mr. Tirone noticed a low depression area with significant fill that extends into access area. Area of access has to be cleaned out. Reason for the letter is to make owner aware of wetland. The side of his yard up to the house is within 100' buffer zone of wetland, so he cannot use fill, pull up brush, remove trees or mow right up to it. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to continue Request Letter of 27 Dustin Road until the meeting on April 8, 2015. Seconded by Ms. Longley. Vote 4 -0 -0. Continued NOI 270 -0634 Sturges Park - Pine Ridge Road, Map 4, Lot 88, Tow of Reading Engineering Dept. /DPW Ms. Scanlon reopened the hearing. Mr. Zambouras told the Board he had no formal report to present. The planting plan is incomplete. He looked at areas Commission spoke about at the last meeting. Repair of wing walls does have to be done. Bank on far side is fairly vertical and seems stable. Drainage pipe is to be trimmed back. Mr. Zambouras will present a comprehensive plan itemizing restoration of the bank at meeting of January 28, 2015. Ms. Longley made Motion to continue Sturges Park hearing until January 28, 2015. Seconded by Ms. Scanlon. Vote 4 -0 -0 Continued RDA 14 -18: 115 Forest Street, Map 39, Lot 100, Alley Mr. Alley appeared before the Board with an update on his project. He has asked Jack Sullivan to do the additional work. His plan shows hay bales around the perimeter, crushed stone, drip trench and calculation for net increase for impervious /pervious area. Demolition of roof is to be done by hand one dumpster at a time. Mr. Alley presented an outline of demolition plan. He will make sure nothing goes in the buffer zone and also will be checking for debris going into the yard. Ms. Scanlon performed site visit on Sunday and noticed how tight the back corner is and was happy to see proposed staked straw waddle. She questioned why there is a pit in the back corner. Mr. Alley explained builder did testing for footings. Mr. Tirone stated straw waddle will not work for erosion control. Silt fencing and straw /hay bales at least for back and side of property. A pre- activity meeting will be held to check site. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to issue a Negative Determination of Applicability with conditions stipulating appropriate means and methods of construction, with plans and construction schedule. Mr. Selle seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to close Request for Determination of Applicability 14 -18. Ms. Longley seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0 Continued RDA 14 -19: 0 Birch Meadow Drive, Map 33, Lot 58, Planting Plan approval only, Babe Ruth League /Halsey Mr. Tirone brought forward Mr. Halsey's planting plan which provides for 15 arborvitae plants and allowance for a 10 foot by 160 foot "no mow" zone. The hope is volunteer vegetation will grow in this area and establish itself. The arborvitae plants are approximately 2 feet tall. A professional landscaper will set up the plants. If any die within the first two years Babe Ruth League will replace them. The cost for the arborvitae is $400.00. Page 1 2 2013 09 -03 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes Mr. Halsey stated Babe Ruth League cannot be responsible for the no mow zone. They have tried to balance the Commission's requests with the resources available from this non - profit, all volunteer league. Mr. Halsey reported the contractor is scheduled to install pads for dugouts in February. Mr. Tirone reminded those present that a pre- activity meeting is required 72 hours in advance of the start of work. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to approve planting plan as discussed. Mr. Selle seconded. Vote 4 -0 -0. West Street Dewatering /Silt cleanup Discussion, Callicacco Corp Those before the board introduced themselves. Cori Barrett MRWA, Director of Construction; Jerry Sheehan, MWRA, Construction Coordinator; Mary White, MWRA, Environmental Monitoring; Steve Comoletti, President Caliacco Corp.; Kevin Beauregard, FST Engineer; Bill Beyer, FST Mr. Beauregard reported on Siltation Removal Plan regarding silt deposited on Howard and Oak Street outfalls due to dewatering process. Initially water was pumped to catch basins with silt socks and discharged into streams. Contractor provided handout of removal plan and described process. The same approach will be used at both the Oak and West Street location and the Howard and Oak Street location until these streams are cleaned up. Water will be pumped into removal basin which has hay bales and crushed stone on bottom, fabric, crushed stone, dirt bag, floc logs with jute netting. Ms. Scanlon asked for revision to item c to include visual observations being reported to Conservation Commission on a daily basis. MWRA is happy to walk stream with Commission and do whatever Conservation Commission wants done. After several days of using containment basin Mr. Beauregard noticed water is crystal clear. Mr. Tirone reported Order of Conditions said plan for dewatering needed to be submitted for approval. The project started out on the wrong foot because procedure was not followed. Mr. Tirone requested work get started on Howard Street. Pre - activity meeting could take place on Tuesday. Request MWRA come back at next meeting with an update. Contractor mentioned tentative date of completion of January 30, 2015 may have to be pushed back. Mr. Tirone will send results and any new information electronically to Board members and they can respond with their comments. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to approve Siltation Removal Plan for Howard Street starting January 20, 2015, and only to proceed to Oak Street stream if Howard Street stream procedure works and is cleaned satisfactorily. Ms. Longley seconded. 4 -0 -0. Continued Citizens Open Forum: 88 Timberneck Drive, Marshall Mr. and Mrs. Marshall appeared before Commission regarding posting of Signage in the Timberneck Swamp area. They are proposing putting signs around perimeter of swamp so hunters can identify private property vs. the no hunting area. Mr. Halsey, Board of Selectmen, reported there is an instructional motion that was passed at Special Town Meeting instructing the Board of Selectmen to survey the swamp. It was approved at Town Meeting. The Marshall's are here to ask Conservation to be a part of this. Ms. Scanlon advised that the Commisssion does not have a surveyor and does not do survey work. The Board agreed posting signs would be a step in the right direction. Board discussed where signs should be located. It would be very difficult to identify exact limits of the private property. Page 1 3 2013 C9 13 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes Ms. Stager questioned if anyone has considered purchasing the property from the Land Trust. Mr. Halsey has initiated conversation with the Land Trust to see if that would be part of the solution. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to approve posting of "No Hunting" signs inside property line of Conservation Land especially along Charles Street and Haverhill Street. If town wants to do a survey that would be beneficial. Seconded by Ms. Longley. Vote 4 -0 -0 The Marshall's, Mr. Halsey, and the Board discussed at length how the signs should read. Hunters could be led astray not knowing that private property exists for hunting. Public safety is an issue because this is private land allowing hunting with firearms, ringed by Conservation Land, ringed by residential neighborhoods. Several signs should at the end of Libby Ave, along Charles Street and along Haverhill Street Ms. Scanlon made Motion to post signs at 30 -50 foot intervals reading "No Hunting on Conservation Land in Timberneck Swamp ". Seconded by Ms. Longley. Vote 4 -0 -0 Old /New Business Minor Project: 20 Johanna Drive, RSG Landscape & Construction, Frost Wall Mr. Tirone reported Frost wall with 4 foot foundation, 65 feet from wetland. Enclosed in area presently contains a pool with a fence all the way around. Erosion control is already in place so this project is approved. Pinevale Dumping, corner of Riverside and Sunnyside Mr. Tirone reported resident contacted him after receiving letter asking for debris to be removed from Conservation Land in back of his property. This resident doesn't understand the issue. Some of the neighbors redistributed the top of the pile further into the woods making the situation even worse. Ms. Scanlon would like him to come to next meeting so a plan can be worked out. The neighbors need to be made aware of Reading's curbside leaf pickup. She wants Mr. Tirone to continue talking to him. If he does not respond, small fines are in order. A deadline should be set or fines will be issued. Conservation needs to be serious about collecting the fines. Board members agreed fines are in order if owner refuses to attend a Conservation meeting and does not create a plan for removal of debris. The fines would be imposed for not cleaning up conservation land accessible through his land only. Fee Comparison Mr. Tirone put together a chart of fees that was discussed and approved by Commission on November 24, 2014. Board discussed whether fees should be advertised when they are increased. Board decided new fees will be implemented. Approve 2015 Meeting Schedule Ms. Scanlon advised she will not be able to attend the April 22, 2015 meeting. Ms. Stager may have conflict with class schedule. She will know more at next meeting. Daylight savings starts March 8, 2015 which can impact site visits. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to accept 2015 schedule as proposed. Seconded by Ms. Longley. Vote 4- 0-0. State Revolving Fund Ms. Scanlon made Motion to approve the transfer of $4,000.00 of State Revolving Fund monies to Conservation Budget for purpose of supplementing Conservation Administrator's salary. Seconded by Ms. Longley. Vote 4 -0 -0. Page 1 4 2013 -o9 Town of Reading - Meeting Minutes Administrators Report: Bus stop Mitigation update, Phragmite treatment Mr. Tirone got report from Aquatic Control Technology that phragmite can be treated reasonably Small strand of phragmite at Market Basket area. The cost is approx. $3000 for three year term, one application in the fall for three years. Mr. Zambouras had banked the compensation. Phragmite removal will not be done at this time but may be an affordable project for another area of town. Mr. Zambouras reminded Mr. Tirone of Danis property wanting their own restoration and clearing of the area. They want to clean it up for better view of the businesses. Town of Reading doesn't want to get into a bartering situation. Bills Approved No bills at this time Minutes Ms. Scanlon made Motion to approve minutes from November 24, 2014 and December 17, 2014. Seconded by Mr. Selle. Vote 4 -0 -0 Tennessee Gas Pipeline Ms. Scanlon wanted to review the letter from AECOM regarding Tennessee Gas. They respectfully request we review our records to see if any of the areas they are working on have identified resources. Conservation will advise them there are potential vernal pools. A deadline was not noted in the letter sent December 30, 2014. Commission would like their deadline for a response. An Open House is to be held in Andover and Wilmington. Board's response should include questions: what are they proposing, how they are proposing to put it in, are there erosion controls, is there an access road? Action plan should include attending Open House in Andover on February 17, from 6 — 8 pm. Resignation Mr. Selle will make an announcement at next meeting that he will be resigning at the end of January. Nature Trail Project Rachel Baumgartner of the Library is leading Storywalk near Matera Cabin and wants to set up kiosks. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to approve Rachel's Project Storywalk near Matera Cabin. Seconded by Ms. Longley. Vote 4 -0 -0 Ms. Scanlon made Motion to approve Rachel's Nature Literacy Program display. Seconded by Mr. Selle. Vote 4 -0 -0. MACC Meeting February 28, 2015 is date for Annual Environmental Conference. Cost to attend is $115.00. Austin Prep Access Road New construction for access point to football field. Plan is to reuse concrete from stands for crushed stone. Austin Prep questioned if it's possible to go forward or do they need to come to a meeting, or do they need to Modify Order of Conditions, or do they need more detailed drawings and notification to abutters. Would this be considered a Minor or Major Change. Information on this project just came in today. Ms. Scanlon proposed this project be discussed at next meeting. Ms. Scanlon made Motion to adjourn at 10:20 pm. Seconded by Mr. Selle. Vote 4 -0 -0. Page 1 5 2013 -09 -03